A Gaston County wrestling coach charged with child sex crimes remains on paid suspension a month after his arrest.

Gaston County Police detectives investigated the allegations against Gary “Scott” Goins and charged him on June 5.

The case has since been passed on to the Gaston County District Attorney’s Office.

But an underlying investigation persists.

When staff members face criminal charges, the Gaston County school system launches its own inquiry.

That investigation is still underway, keeping Goins on the school payroll, according to Bonnie Reidy, school spokeswoman.

A 20-year veteran at East Gaston, Goins makes a salary of $44,670 plus a $2,143 coach’s supplement, Reidy said.

‘Level of victimization’

Police went to Goins’ home the morning of June 5, before the East Gaston High School coach and teacher headed to work.

He was accused of sexually molesting two former East Gaston wrestlers.

Goins faced a Gaston County District Court judge on 15 charges, and was soon released on a $500,000 secured bond. He made his way back into court the next day when another accuser came forward.

He was then released on a $5,000 secured bond.

Goins got a third round of charges this past week when a grand jury handed down indictments that tacked on two charges of sexual activity with a student by a coach and two statutory rape charges.

Another $5,000 secured bond was assigned.

The new charges involve one of the three accusers police had already interviewed, according to Capt. Jay Human with Gaston County Police.

According to Human, one of the accusers didn’t disclose everything during the first round of interviews.

“He decided to basically come forward with the whole truth as far as his level of victimization,” said Human.

‘Don’t go against the team’
The charges against Goins came from former wrestlers who are now adults.

According to court documents, the accusers were under the age of 16 between 1998 and 2004, when the abuse is alleged to have happened.

Gaston County District Attorney Locke Bell said some of the crimes occurred while Goins was on wrestling trips with the students in places such as Florida, Las Vegas and Ohio.

Human said no current East Gaston students have come forward with allegations.

If new accusations arise, police will open a new investigation, Human said.

People in positions of trust and authority can use that relationship to victimize children, Human said.

“That type of criminal, whether they’re a teacher or a trusted person, they use the same techniques. They use that trust. They use manipulation and threats,” Human said. “In this case it was about team. Don’t go against the team.”

You can reach Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.